>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" - >> I HAVEN'T SEEN OR HEARD FROM
MY DAUGHTER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS I STARTED THINKING, "MAYBE
SOMEBODY TOOK HER. >> Reporter: YOU KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG RIGHT AWAY
>> SHE DIDN'T EVER NOT ANSWER HER PHONE. >> IT WAS MADDENING.
IT WAS CRAZY >> WHEN THE OFFICER TRIED TO SPEAK WITH THE BOYFRIEND, HE WAS
VERY CONFRONTATIONAL >> I'M NOT THE BEST PERSON WHEN I DO DRINK
>> Reporter: DID YOU CONTACT THIS EX-HUSBAND OF HERS? >> YES
THERE WAS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGE WHERE HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN ARRESTED.
>> Reporter: SUDDENLY YOUR MOM'S NOT AROUND >> I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO REALIZE
SOMETHING SERIOUS WAS GOIN' ON >> THE LAST PERSON RITA WAS SEEN WITH WAS A SUSPECT IN A SEX
ASSAULT. >> I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE AND HE KEPT, LIKE, PUSHING ME
DOWN >> Reporter: DID HE TELL YOU WHAT HE WAS GONNA DO TO YOU?
>> HE SAID HE WAS GONNA KILL ME. >> THERE WERE JUST TOO MANY SIMILARITIES TO REALLY DISCOUNT.
I KNEW SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAD HAPPENED >> COME ON
WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU >> A HEARTBROKEN FAMILY AND A DETERMINED DETECTIVE SEARCH FOR
A MISSING MOM. CAN A STRANGER WHO ALMOST MET THE SAME FATE HELP FIND HER?
YOU'RE ALONG FOR EVERY TWIST IN THE HUNT I'M LESTER HOLT AND THIS IS
"DATELINE. HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH "FINDING RITA.
>> Reporter: IT WAS A SATURDAY EVENING IN MARCH 2018. IT WAS ST. PATRICK'S DAY
AND THE DOWNTOWN BARS IN LONGMONT, COLORADO, WERE NOISY CROWDED.
CHEERFUL SO, DID ANYONE PAY ATTENTION TO THE MAN WHO MOVED ABOUT AMONG
THEM OR WONDER WHAT HE WAS THINKING AS HE BEFRIENDED STRANGERS AT
THE BAR? FEMALE STRANGERS WELL, WHY WOULD THEY
THIS WAS A PLACE TO RELAX, TO BE HAPPY. WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT
RITA GUTIERREZ-GARCIA NEEDED TO GET OUT, FORGET HER TROUBLES. TO GET A FRESH START
AND WASH THAT MAN RIGHT OUT OF HER HAIR JUST THAT VERY DAY RITA HAD
BROKEN UP WITH HER LONGTIME BOYFRIEND. >> SHE WAS JUST LIKE, "I'M JUST
GONNA GO OUT AND HAVE FUN, YOU KNOW I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT
ANYTHING ELSE. >> Reporter: THIS IS DIANNE, RITA'S MOM
WHAT DID THEY PLAN TO DO >> WELL, IT WAS -- ST. PATRICK'S DAY, SO THEY WERE JUST GONNA GO
OUT AND CELEBRATE. >> Reporter: THOUGH, NOT TOO MUCH
SHE WAS A SINGLE MOM, HAD THREE BOYS WAITING AT HOME >> SHE'S LIKE, "I'M NOT GONNA
HAVE A LOT TO DRINK. I JUST WANT TO GO OUT AND HAVE FUN.
>> Reporter: DON'T WORRY, SHE SAID, SHE'D BE WITH FAMILY, AND SHE'D BE HOME EARLY.
HER MIDDLE SON, ROMAN. >> IT WAS LIKE ANY OTHER NIGHT AND WE WERE USED TO HER BEING
GONE NIGHTS BECAUSE SHE USED TO WORK NIGHTS. >> Reporter: WHEN HIS MOM WASN'T
HOME, SAID ROMAN, HIS OLDER BROTHER WOULD BE IN CHARGE THIS NIGHT WAS NO DIFFERENT.
>> SHE GOT READY AND THEN SAID 'BYE TO ALL OF US AND WE ALL SAID BYE BACK AND
THEN SHE WALKED OUT THE DOOR >> Reporter: HER HALF-BROTHER PICKED HER UP AND THEY DROVE
DOWNTOWN TO THE PUB DISTRICT IN LONGMONT IT WASN'T VERY BIG, MOST PLACES
WITHIN A COUPLE OF BLOCKS OF EACH OTHER THROU
>> WE KNEW SHE WAS OUT >> SHE WAS POSTING STORIES ON HER SNAPCHAT THROUGHOUT THE
NIGHT. >> Reporter: AT HOME HER BOYS WENT TO BED EXPECTING TO SEE
THEIR MOM IN THE MORNING BUT WHEN THEY WOKE UP, RITA WASN'T THERE
THIS IS HER YOUNGEST SON REYES, WHO WAS NINE AT THE TIME >> I REMEMBER ME AND ROMAN WERE
TRYIN' TO CALL HER AND SHE WOULDN'T PICK UP I WAS SCARED
JUST BEING SCARED AND WORRIED. >> Reporter: RIGHT AROUND THEN RITA'S MOM DIANNE SHOWED UP TO
TAKE THEM TO CHURCH. AND ENCOUNTERED WORRIED BOYS AND NO RITA.
>> I THOUGHT, "WELL, MAYBE, MAYBE SHE DECIDED TO RECONCILE WITH DAVID."
>> Reporter: THAT IS, RITA'S EX-BOYFRIEND, DAVID BREHM, THE ONE SHE'D JUST BROKEN UP WITH.
OR, MAYBE SHE JUST HAD TO MUCH TO DRINK THAT NIGHT, AND STAYED OVER WITH FAMILY
ANYWAY, THEY WERE SURE SHE'D BE HOME SOON, BECAUSE LATER THAT SUNDAY WAS A BIG FAMILY EVENT.
A BABY SHOWER FOR RITA'S SISTER NICOLE SHE'D NEVER MISS THAT.
BUT SHE DID. >> SO THAT'S WHEN WE WERE LIKE, "WHERE IS RITA
WHY ISN'T RITA HERE? >> Reporter: WOULD SHE NOT SHOW UP FOR SOMETHING OF YOURS?
>> NO. SHE WOULDN'T JUST DO THAT. >> Reporter: ALL AFTERNOON, INTO
THE EVENING DIANNE AND HER DAUGHTERS KEPT CALLING NO PICKUP.
NO CALL BACKS. JUST A DEAFENING SILENCE WHAT HAPPENED IN HERE?
DID YOU FEEL IT? >> PANIC AND FEAR. >> Reporter: RIGHT AT THE
BEGINNING, 'CAUSE YOU KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG RIGHT AWAY >> WE KNEW
YEAH SHE DIDN'T NOT -- EVER NOT ANSWER HER PHONE OR AT LEAST
TEXT YOU AND LET YOU KNOW THAT SHE'S OKAY, OR SHE'S SOMEWHERE SO FOR HER TO NOT HAVE HER PHONE
ON -- WASN'T RITA. >> Reporter: MONDAY MORNING ARRIVED, BUT NOT RITA.
DIANNE, TRYING TO MAINTAIN A SENSE OF NORMALCY, DROVE HER GRANDKIDS TO SCHOOL.
SHE DIDN'T SAY MUCH TO THEM. DIDN'T WANT TO ALARM THEM. >> MY GRANDMA AND MY FAMILY
TRIED TO PROTECT US. THEY JUST DIDN'T WANNA, LIKE, SCARE US OR TELL US SOMETHING
THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE >> Reporter: AFTER DROPPING OFF
THE KIDS AT SCHOOL DIANNE DROVE TO DAVID'S MOM'S HOUSE THAT IS, THE EX-BOYFRIEND'S MOTHER.
>> AND I SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHERE RITA'S AT. SHE'S NOT ANSWERING HER PHONE.
IS SHE WITH DAVID? SO SHE CALLED HIM. AND HE SAID, "NO. SHE'S NOT WITH ME
WHY WOULD SHE BE WITH ME SHE WAS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW --" >> Reporter: SOME OTHER GUY.
>> "-- SHE'S PROBABLY OFF WITH SOME OTHER GUY." >> Reporter: FULL PANIC NOW.
>> I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, "COME ON WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU?"
WHY AREN'T YOU RETURNING MY CALLS? AND THEN, THE BOYS GOT OUT OF
SCHOOL AND ONE OF HER SONS HAD A -- RECITAL.
AND THEN, SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR THAT >> Reporter: FIRST THE BABY
SHOWER NOW THE RECITAL. VERY WORRIED NOW
DIANNE CALLED THE LOCAL HOSPITALS. SHE WASN'T THERE
COULD YOU BRING YOURSELF TO THINK THAT SHE HAD BEEN HARMED SOMEHOW?
>> YEAH, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE SOMEBODY KIDNAPPED MY DAUGHTER >> Reporter: SO DIANNE MADE THE
CALL SHE'D BEEN DREADING, TO THE LONGMONT POLICE. >> I HAVEN'T SEEN OR HEARD FROM
MY DAUGHTER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THE POLICE WERE LIKE,
"SOMETIMES, PEOPLE JUST -- YOU KNOW GO OFF. AND I'M LIKE, "BUT RITA DOESN'T
EVER JUST GO OFF THIS LONG WITHOUT TELLING ME, YOU KNOW ESPECIALLY HER KIDS.
>> Reporter: THAT WAS ENOUGH THEY ASSIGNED THE CASE TO DETECTIVE CODY CLARK
>> THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT JUST WEREN'T QUITE ADDING UP, SOME THINGS THAT DIDN'T REALLY
MAKE SENSE >> Reporter: OH HE HAD NO IDEA MAKING SENSE OF THINGS WOULD
CONSUME THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OF HIS LIFE AND SPAN TWO STATES.
AND TWO COUNTRIES. AND AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL, TWO
TWO DAYS AND NO RITA ANYWHERE. SO DETECTIVE CODY CLARK WENT ABOUT LOOKING METHODICALLY
>> WE WERE JUST GETTING THAT FIRST LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION, AND WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT -- WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PLACES THAT SHE COULD HAVE GONE TO
WHO MIGHT SHE HAVE REACHED OUT TO AND JUST TRYING TO KINDA PIECE
TOGETHER THOSE LAST FEW HOURS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY KNEW WHERE SHE WAS.
>> Reporter: BUT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, DETECTIVE CLARK FIRST HAD TO KNOW RITA, HER CUSTOMS
AND HABITS, PAST AND PRESENT ANY LITTLE DETAIL THAT MIGHT PUT HIM ON THE PATH TO FINDING HER
>> SO I INITIALLY START LOOKING UP FOR SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON RITA, TRYING TO
LEARN WHO SHE WAS AND FIGURE OUT IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT I NEEDED TO BE AWARE OF.
>> Reporter: WAS SHE THE SORT OF PERSON WHO'D WANT TO DISAPPEAR OR NOT
>> EXACTLY, RIGHT. DID SHE HAVE A PATTERN OF DOING THOSE THINGS
YEAH SO THAT WAS A HUGE PART OF IT. >> Reporter: AND DETECTIVE CLARK
SPOKE WITH RITA'S FAMILY WHO HAD A LOT TO TELL HIM ABOUT THE WOMAN THEY LOVED
RITA GUTIERREZ-GARCIA WAS SMART AND KIND AND HAPPY SOMEONE WHO EMBRACED LIFE AND
THOSE AROUND HER >> SHE WAS FUNNY SHE HAD THIS LITTLE -- YOU KNOW,
SHE'D DO THIS WHEN SHE WAS JOKING WITH YOU OR JUST BEING A LITTLE SILLY
SHE LOVED FASHION, SHOES, CLOTHES, HER HAIR. JUST ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING WITH
HER HAIR >> Reporter: RITA WAS THE ELDEST OF DIANNE'S THREE DAUGHTERS, BIG
SISTER TO NICOLE AND JESSICA >> SHE HAD A REALLY GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR
SHE WAS ALWAYS MAKING US LAUGH WE USED TO CALL OURSELVES THE SILLY SISTERS OR SISSAROOS
>> SHE WAS QUITE THE CHARACTER BUT SHE WAS A VERY THOUGHTFUL, SWEET PERSON, NURTURING.
>> SHE'S A HUGE PART OF MY HEART. >> Reporter: RITA MARRIED EARLY,
HAD HER KIDS EARLY BUT BY HER 30s, SHE WAS DIVORCED AND RAISING THE BOYS ON HER OWN,
SOMETIMES WORKING TWO JOBS, OFTEN AT NIGHT >> SO SHE HAD TO CRAM A LOT INTO
HER LIFE SO I'D SAY SHE WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE AND COMPLEX WOMAN
>> Reporter: WITH PLANS. BIG PLANS. >> SHE WAS GOING TO BE A
PARALEGAL. AND SHE WAS ALREADY JOB SEARCHING, SO SHE WAS VERY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT SHE WAS LIKE, "I JUST WANNA HAVE A BETTER LIFE FOR MY KIDS.
AND SHE'S LIKE, "I KNOW I CAN DO THIS." AND I SAID, "YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT
YOU CAN. >> Reporter: SHE EVEN GOT HER VERY OWN FIRST CAR
>> SHE WAS SO PROUD. I, MYSELF, WAS LIKE, "YOU COULD HAVE GOT SOMETHING MORE
ECONOMICAL." BUT SHE'S LIKE, "JUST BE PROUD OF ME.
AND I SAID, "I AM. I AM." >> Reporter: WHAT'D SHE BUY?
>> SHE GOT A 2005 MERCEDES YEAH >> Reporter: SO WOULD SHE LEAVE
ALL THAT AND JUST TAKE OFF >> IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE RIGHT OFF THE BAT, BUT IT WASN'T
ANYTHING THAT POINTED TO US THINKING THAT THERE WAS ANY FOUL PLAY OR ANYTHING NEFARIOUS GOING
ON EITHER. >> Reporter: NEVER ASSUME, SAID DETECTIVE CLARK.
STILL, THERE WAS AN URGENT TASK, AND THAT WAS TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MEN IN RITA'S LIFE
>> WE TRY AND LOOK FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, WHICH WOULD
BE FORMER PARTNERS, BOYFRIENDS, HUSBANDS, THINGS LIKE THAT >> Reporter: SURE.
>> PEOPLE WHO KNEW THEM AND WOULD HAVE A REASON WHY. >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS ONE
PERSON WHO STOOD OUT TO CLARK -- DAVID BREHM. DIANNE TOLD THE COPS ABOUT
RITA'S ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN BOYFRIEND. >> IT SOUNDED PRETTY TUMULTUOUS,
THAT WHEN THINGS WERE GOOD, THEY WERE REALLY GOOD AND WHEN THEY WERE BAD, THEY
WERE PRETTY BAD. AND YET, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY WOULD BREAK UP AND THEN
THEY'D GET BACK TOGETHER BREAK UP AND GET BACK TOGETHER >> Reporter: AND EVEN THOUGH
DAVID HIMSELF TOLD DIANNE RITA WAS NOT WITH HIM, LONGMONT PD HAD TO CHECK HIM OUT
OF COURSE THEY DID AND SO THEY CALLED HIM >> WHEN THE OFFICER TRIED TO
SPEAK WITH THE BOYFRIEND, HE WAS VERY CONFRONTATIONAL AND DIDN'T WANT TO PROVIDE A LOT OF
INFORMATION. >> Reporter: DAVID TOLD THE OFFICER THAT HIS LAST CONTACT
WITH RITA WAS BY EMAIL, ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY, THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED.
BUT WHEN ASKED IF HE WOULD FORWARD THE EMAIL, DAVID REFUSED.
>> AND THAT KINDA KEYED SOME CONCERNS FOR HIM THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE
THAT WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT HERE >> Reporter: WOW THAT'S A RED FLAG RIGHT IN FRONT
OF -- RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU THERE. >> YEAH.
YEAH ABSOLUTELY >> Reporter: SO NO MORE PHONE
CALLS. NOW THEY WENT TO SEE DAVID IN >> Reporter: IT WAS WHEN THE
POLICE GOT INVOLVED, THAT'S WHEN THE COLD REALITY HIT RITA'S SISTERS.
>> WHEN WE WERE BEING INTERVIEWED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT WAS WHEN IT WAS
THE REALEST AND THE SCARIEST LIKE I WAS JUST BAWLING, CRYING, SOBBING, BEGGING FIND HER FOR
US >> Reporter: EX-BOYFRIEND DAVID DID NOT SOB OR BEG WHEN THE
POLICE FIRST SPOKE TO HIM ON THE PHONE. HE SEEMED ANGRY, DEFENSIVE
SO, DETECTIVES DROVE OUT TO NEARBY BOULDER WHERE DAVID LIVED.
AND THIS TIME, THEY RECORDED THE CONVERSATION >> SO, I HAVE A FEW THINGS I
WANT TO GO OVER WITH YOU >> Reporter: AND DAVID, WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED, OFFERED THIS
ABOUT HIS BREAKUP WITH RITA. >> MY PAIN IS JUST LIKE SHE HASN'T EVEN TALKED TO ME
SHE DIDN'T SAY "WE'RE DONE." SHE JUST SAID "I'M -- I'M WORN OUT WITH FIGHTING.
>> Reporter: DAVID ADMITTED THERE WERE ISSUES. >> I'M NOT THE BEST PERSON WHEN
I DO DRINK, AND, YOU KNOW, SHE'S DEALT WITH A LOT OF -- BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE LOVE
EACH OTHER >> Reporter: HE TOLD THE DETECTIVES THAT A COUPLE WEEKS
PRIOR THEY GOT INTO A PRETTY BAD ARGUMENT >> WHAT WAS YOUR BREAK UP ABOUT?
>> I HAD A COUPLE OF BEERS AND HAD A MOUTH ON ME THAT DAY SO, YOU BRING UP OLD THINGS AND
SHE BLOCKED MY NUMBER FROM THAT MOMENT >> Reporter: THAT, SAID DAVID,
WAS THE LAST TIME HE SAW RITA. AND THEN, TWO WEEKS LATER, ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY, DAVID SENT
RITA AN EMAIL. "PLEASE TALK TO ME." AND BEFORE RITA WENT OUT THAT
EVENING, SHE REPLIED "MY HEART IS -- TIRED. I HOPE YOU FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN
CHANGE YOU AND MAKE YOU HAPPY. GOD KNOWS I TRIED. >> THAT'S LITERALLY THE LAST
THING SHE SAID IT WAS LIKE "LORD KNOWS I'VE TRIED.
>> WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT SHE HAD SENT HIM THIS EMAIL BASICALLY TELLING HIM THAT, YOU
KNOW, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE AROUND HIM ANYMORE AND TO, "ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
WITHOUT ME," THAT, OBVIOUSLY, POINTS US IN THAT DIRECTION OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER HE
WAS INVOLVED >> Reporter: SO, THEY TRIED TO PIN DOWN WHERE DAVID HAD BEEN
AND WHAT HE HAD BEEN DOING THAT SAINT PATRICK'S DAY. >> WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO THAT DAY?
HOW DOES YOUR DAY WORK OUT YOU GET THIS EMAIL - >> YEAH -- SO I'VE BEEN VERY
DOWN AND I SPENT TIME WITH MY MOM. >> Reporter: DAVID LET THE
DETECTIVES TAKE A LOOK AROUND HIS APARTMENT. NOTHING STOOD OUT.
HE ALSO AGREED TO GIVE THEM HIS DNA. >> I'M GONNA RUB ON THE SIDE OF
YOUR CHEEKS. >> Reporter: BUT DAVID'S BEHAVIOR, THOUGH
COOPERATIVE-ISH, WAS STILL UNUSUAL. >> HE WAS VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON
TELLING US HOW TO CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION RATHER THAN TELLING US WHAT EXACTLY HE HAD
BEEN DOING >> IT ALMOST SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING THAT I WAS TRYING TO
PUT FORWARD NOBODY HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT. >> Reporter: WHEN A PERSON
BEHAVES THAT WAY, IT DOESN'T MAKE YOU WANT TO SAY, "OKAY. NEVER MIND
I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU. >> EXACTLY IT CONTINUED TO KIND OF STIR UP
A LOT OF THOSE FEELINGS OF UNEASE >> Reporter: DETECTIVE CLARK
TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO DAVID HOW THE PROCESS WORKED >> MY JOB WAS TO GATHER
INFORMATION AND FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT HE HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT.
AND THE SOONER THAT I COULD DETERMINE THAT HE WASN'T INVOLVED LIKE HE CLAIMED, THEN
THE SOONER I COULD START FOCUSING MY EFFORTS ELSEWHERE. >> Reporter: SO, WAS DAVID
TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING OR WAS HE GENUINELY UPSET? >> HE AGREED TO COME TO THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND -- AND DO A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION IN ORDER TO -- KIND OF, ALLEVIATE SOME OF
MY CONCERNS. >> I'M AN AGENT WITH THE COLORADO BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATIONS LONGMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT ASKED ME TO COME IN 'CAUSE, OBVIOUSLY,
I'M IMPARTIAL. I'M NOT INVOLVED IN THIS CASE. >> Reporter: DAVID SHOWED UP AT
THE POLICE STATION WITHOUT A LAWYER AND EVEN BEFORE THE CBI AGENT
GOT STARTED -- >> THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT WE KIND OF HAVE TO RULE OUT IS
SOMEBODY THAT HAS BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MISSING PERSON
>> Reporter: DAVID FELL APART. >> I WANT TO BRING HER HOME MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
I'M SORRY. >> THAT'S OKAY >> Reporter: HE ANSWERED EVERY
QUESTION >> DO YOU PLAN TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS TRUTHFULLY
>> YES >> DID YOU KILL THAT WOMAN >> NO.
>> Reporter: BUT COULD NOT HOLD BACK THE TEARS >> CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT
HER. >> OKAY. >> JUST EVERY TIME YOU SAY HER
NAME, IT MAKES ME WANT TO -- CRY. >> OKAY.
>> I MISS HER SO MUCH. >> Reporter: AFTER TWO HOURS AND FIVE TESTS, THE RESULTS WERE IN.
SUMMARIZED IN JUST ONE WORD, INCONCLUSIVE >> THE EXAMINER TOLD ME THAT,
ULTIMATELY, WHILE THE RESULTS WERE INCONCLUSIVE JUST DUE TO THE FACT OF HOW EMOTIONAL HE
WAS, HE SAID, "I DON'T THINK THIS IS YOUR GUY." >> Reporter: BY NOW, DETECTIVES
HAD ALSO SPOKEN TO DAVID'S MOM, AND CONFIRMED HIS ALIBI FOR THE NIGHT RITA WENT MISSING.
>> WE WERE ABLE TO PRETTY CONCLUSIVELY CONFIRM THAT HE HAD BEEN AT HIS MOM'S HOUSE ALL
EVENING. >> Reporter: SO HOW TO EXPLAIN DAVID'S EMOTIONAL, DEFIANT
DEMEANOR >> THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF MISINFORMATION GOING AROUND TOWN
ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AND IT WAS MAKING HIM MORE UPSET ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
>> Reporter: WHY WOULD THAT MAKE HIM MORE UPSET >> THERE WAS ALLEGATIONS THAT HE
WAS INVOLVED WHICH, I GUESS, WAS JUST MAKING IT EVEN HARDER FOR HIM TO --
KIND OF FOCUS ON -- ON HELPING THE INVESTIGATION. >> Reporter: PERHAPS
BUT WHEN WE SAT DOWN WITH DAVID HE TOLD US THAT WAS THE LEAST OF HIS CONCERNS
>> I KNEW THAT I HAD NO INVOLVEMENT WITH IT. SO, WHY CONCERN MYSELF WITH
THAT TO CONCERN MYSELF WITH WHAT PEOPLE MAY OR MAY NOT THINK,
THAT'S THE LAST THING I COULD CARE ABOUT >> Reporter: NO, HE SAID, HIS
MISSION WAS SIMPLY FINDING RITA. >> AND IF NOT FINDING HER, FINDING OUT WHAT -- WHO KNOWS
WHAT AND HOW TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED OR WHERE SHE IS THAT'S WHERE 100% OF MY
ATTENTION WAS DEDICATED. >> Reporter: AS IT WAS FOR DETECTIVE CLARK, WHO BY NOW HAD
LEARNED ABOUT ANOTHER MAN IN RITA'S LIFE. >> THERE WAS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
CHARGE WHERE HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN ARRESTED.E OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S A HUGE PIECE OF
INFORMATION. >> Reporter: THAT IS IF HE COULD
BURIED IN AN OLD CRIME REPORT. IT PRACTICALLY LEAPT OUT AT DETECTIVE CODY CLARK, SOMETHING
IN RITA'S PAST HE COULD NOT IGNORE SHE WAS A BATTERED WIFE, BEATEN
AND BRUISED REPEATEDLY BY THE FATHER OF HER THREE BOYS, HER EX-HUSBAND
THE GUY'S NAME WAS GUTIERREZ ROICE GUTIERREZ. FOR YEARS RITA HAD KEPT THE
ABUSE SECRET FROM HER OWN MOTHER, DIANNE >> I FOUND OUT THAT, LATER ON,
THAT HE WAS BEING ABUSIVE. >> Reporter: SHE DIDN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW AT FIRST
>> SHE DIDN'T WANT ME TO KNOW. AND THEY GOT SEPARATED A COUPLE OF TIMES
AND SHE, YOU KNOW, WOULD GO BACK AND THEN, FINALLY, ONE DAY, I
JUST SAID, "WHEN YOU'RE COMPLETELY READY TO WALK AWAY, YOU WILL KNOW.
>> Reporter: AND RITA DID KNOW AFTER ONE TERRIFYING NIGHT WHEN ROICE HELD HER DOWN ON THE BED
AND COVERED HER MOUTH AND NOSE SO SHE COULDN'T BREATHE. AND THEN HE YELLED, AND HE BEAT
HER. AND WHEN HE FINALLY LET UP, SHE SNEAKED A TEXT TO HER MOM,
"HELP. DIANNE CALLED 911. YOU'VE RESCUED HER FROM A
SITUATION IN A WAY, OR AT LEAST SHE'S RESCUED HERSELF, BUT - >> SHE RESCUED HERSELF
BUT I HELPED HER YEAH >> Reporter: ROICE WAS ARRESTED
AND WAS CONVICTED FOR ASSAULTING RITA SHE FILED FOR DIVORCE.
AND THEN THERE WAS TROUBLE AGAIN WHEN ROICE VIOLATED RITA'S PROTECTIVE ORDER, AND HE WAS
DEPORTED TO MEXICO SO AN ANGRY EX-HUSBAND WITH UNFINISHED BUSINESS?
>> IT WAS SOMEBODY THAT I WANTED TO LOOK INTO AND LEARN MORE ABOUT.
>> Reporter: I MEAN, THAT'S THE OBVIOUS SUSPECT IN MANY CASES. >> ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY >> Reporter: WAS IT POSSIBLE THAT ROICE SECRETLY RETURNED TO
LONGMONT >> MAYBE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM AND HE
WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE TO HER. >> Reporter: CLARK TRACKED DOWN
HIS MEXICAN PHONE NUMBER AND CALLED HIM AND ASKED HIM ABOUT RITA
>> HE EXPLAINED THAT HE VERY, VERY RARELY EVER SPOKE WITH RITA
THEY HAD A DECENT RELATIONSHIP AS PARENTS, BUT THAT THE MAJORITY OF THEIR CONVERSATIONS
WERE FOCUSED ON THE BOYS >> Reporter: SO WHERE WAS HE WHEN RITA VANISHED
WELL, HE CERTAINLY WASN'T IN LONGMONT, COLORADO NO WAY
>> I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM, THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN
IN THE COUNTRY FOR YEARS AT THAT POINT, AND THERE WAS NO RECORD OF HIM COMING BACK OVER THE
BORDER INTO THE UNITED STATES. >> Reporter: DEAD END. SO DIANNE AND RITA'S SISTERS,
WORRIED, UPSET, FRUSTRATED, HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE NBC AFFILIATE KUSA WAS THERE
>> RITA IS MY SOULMATE SHE'S MY OLDER SISTER, AND I'VE NEVER HAD TO GO A DAY WITHOUT
HER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. >> RITA, YOU'RE MY OLDEST. AND YOU ARE JESSICA'S SOULMATE
NICOLE WALKED AWAY BECAUSE SHE'S REALLY HURTING AND WE JUST WANT YOU TO COME
HOME THE BOYS NEED YOU. AND, UM, PLEASE, IF ANYBODY --
RITA OR ANYONE OUT THERE, ANYONE SEEING THIS, PLEASE CONTACT THE LONGMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT
HELP US ALL OUT. >> Reporter: AND SHE TOLD THEM ALL JUST WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE
HER IN THAT AWFUL TIME >> I JUST WANT TO SCREAM INSIDE. SHE'S MY DAUGHTER.
AND I JUST NEED HER BACK HOME. >> Reporter: WATCHING IT ALL ON A LIVE STREAM WERE RITA'S BOYS
>> WHEN THEY ACTUALLY WENT ON THE NEWS FOR THE FIRST, TIME THAT'S WHEN, LIKE, THE WORRY OF
IT ALL SET IN. >> Reporter: THAT WOULD HIT YOU WITH A WALLOP AT THAT POINT.
>> YEAH. 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE GONNA DO THAT.
AND, LIKE, "HEY, THEY'RE ON THE NEWS RIGHT NOW." THAT'S, FOR ME, WHEN, LIKE, IT
ALL HIT. LIKE, "THIS IS FOR REAL. THIS IS HAPPENING.
>> Reporter: SUDDENLY RITA'S CASE WAS BIG NEWS IN COLORADO. >> RITA'S STORY WAS SO PREVALENT
IN THE MEDIA AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT -- THAT EVERYBODY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED
AND WERE WILLING TO HELP >> Reporter: VOLUNTEERS QUICKLY MOBILIZED AND FANNED OUT ACROSS
BOULDER COUNTY TO POST FLIERS AND LOOK FOR RITA ANYWHERE THEY COULD THINK OF
ONE OF THOSE SEARCHING WAS DAVID BREHM. >> I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO
UNDERSTAND THE PAIN, WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE SEARCHING FOR YOUR LOVED ONE
IT'S A HORRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH >> Reporter: WITH, IN HIS CASE,
SUFFOCATING GUILT, DAVID TOLD US GUILT FOR STARTING THAT AWFUL
ARGUMENT, THE ONE THAT FINALLY DROVE HER AWAY JUST BEFORE SAINT PATRICK'S DAY.
>> IF I DIDN'T DRINK THAT BEER THAT DAY, SHE MIGHT STILL BE HERE
THAT DAY COULD HAVE BEEN THE CATALYST TO WHATEVER HAPPENED. BUT IF IT WOULD HAVE WENT
DIFFERENTLY, WE WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE TODAY >> Reporter: NOTHING TO DO NOW
BUT KEEP SEARCHING AND VERY EARLY ON, DETECTIVE CLARK ENCOUNTERED -- WAS IT A
CLUE OR JUST A COINCIDENCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE TO ANOTHER YOUNG WOMAN
WHO'D MET A MAN IN THE VERY SAME
IT SEEMED THE WHOLE TOWN WAS LOOKING FOR RITA, BUT NEITHER THE SEARCH NOR HIS INVESTIGATION
HAD PRODUCED ANY REAL LEADS. EXCEPT, THERE WAS THIS ONE CLUE. IN FACT, IT WALKED RIGHT OVER TO
FIND HIM A COLLEAGUE THOUGHT CLARK SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ANOTHER ACTIVE CASE
ABOUT A WOMAN NAMED KAYLENE, KK TO HER FRIENDS AND THE HAIR-RAISING STORY OF
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER AFTER A NIGHT AT ONE OF THE VERY SAME BARS WHERE RITA WENT BEFORE SHE
DISAPPEARED. IT WAS FOUR MONTHS EARLIER, ON THANKSGIVING NIGHT, 2017
HERE IS KK TO TELL THE STORY >> IT WAS A GOOD TIME, JUST TO GET OUT AND LISTEN TO MUSIC WITH
MY FRIENDS >> Reporter: A CASUAL MEETUP FOR A GROUP OF 20-SOMETHINGS TO LET
LOOSE A BIT AFTER FAMILY DINNER. YOU DIDN'T WANT IT TO END. >> SO THAT'S WHY WE ENDED UP
GOING TO THE AFTER-PARTY >> Reporter: SHE AND SOME OF HER FRIENDS KEPT THE PARTY GOING AT
A HOUSE NEARBY AND THEN, WAS IT THE BOOZE, OR SOMETHING IN IT?
SHE BEGAN TO FEEL UNWELL >> CONFUSED, NAUSEOUS, INTOXICATED.
I JUST WANTED TO GO HOME >> Reporter: SHE'D ARRANGED BEFOREHAND TO CALL A FRIEND FOR
A RIDE, BUT HER PHONE WAS DEAD >> SO I PLUGGED MY PHONE IN, TRYING TO GET IT TO CHARGE
AND THEN, THAT'S WHERE EVERYTHING WENT TO, LIKE, A BLUR
>> Reporter: SHE WENT OUTSIDE TO GET SOME AIR, AND A GUY FOLLOWED HER.
A GUY SHE'D MET EARLIER AT THE BAR. NOW HE'D UNPLUGGED HER PHONE
BEFORE IT COULD CHARGE, AND HANDED IT TO HER ALONG WITH HER PURSE
TOLD HER SOMETHING BAD WAS HAPPENING INSIDE THEY HAD TO LEAVE.
RIGHT AWAY >> HE PICKED ME UP AND JUST STARTED WALKING WITH ME.
ARM AROUND MY WAIST AND WAS, LIKE, CARRYING ME BECAUSE I COULD HARDLY WALK OR STAND
I WAS STARTING TO GET SCARED BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO >> Reporter: THE GUY BROUGHT HER
TO THIS HOUSE. >> IT WAS REALLY COLD OUTSIDE. IT WAS, LIKE, DEAD WINTER.
AND I WENT INSIDE, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE EVERYTHING FLIPPED.
>> Reporter: HE TOLD HER SHE COULD PLUG IN HER PHONE AT THE TOP OF A FLIGHT OF STAIRS.
IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BEDROOM. >> HE JUST STARTED PUSHING ME. THROWING ME ON THE BED
IT'S LIKE YOUR MIND IS GOING, "WHAT CAN I DO TO GET OUT OF THIS SITUATION?"
BUT IT'S LIKE MY BODY CAN'T DO THAT >> Reporter: DO YOU RECALL WHAT
HAPPENED AFTER THAT? >> HE HAD -- BEGUN -- STRANGLING ME
AND THEN HE'D KINDA, LIKE, SLAP ME AWAKE, AND THEN DO IT AGAIN, AND --
>> Reporter: AND YOU CAN'T BREATHE. >> NO.
YOU CAN'T EVEN -- SWALLOW. YOU CAN'T BREATHE. YOU CAN'T MAKE SOUND
AND IT JUST GOES BLACK >> Reporter: AGAIN AND AGAIN SHE STRUGGLED, TRIED TO BREATHE,
BLACKED OUT. >> I WAS FULLY CLOTHED WHEN HE HAD STARTED.
AND I WASN'T WHEN I WOKE BACK UP AT SOME POINT. >> Reporter: DID HE TELL YOU
WHAT HE WAS GONNA DO TO YOU? >> HE SAID HE WAS GONNA KILL ME. AND HE JUST LAUGHED IN MY FACE
YOU KNOW YOU GO FROM, LIKE, PANIC, TO FIGHT MODE, TO -- SORRY.
>> Reporter: IT'S A HARD THING TO REMEMBER. >> BUT YOU GO TO WHERE YOU'RE
THINKING IN YOUR HEAD ABOUT PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE AND YOU'RE NEVER GONNA SEE 'EM AGAIN.
>> Reporter: THEN FINALLY, HE TURNED AWAY FOR A MOMENT >> AND I JUST STARTED RUNNING.
AND, YOU KNOW, SCREAMING FOR HELP, AND BANGING ON THE WALLS >> Reporter: SHE RAN DOWN THE
STAIRS, AND WITH HER ATTACKER CHASING HER, SHE MADE IT TO THE FRONT DOOR
IT WAS LOCKED. AND THAT'S WHEN SHE SAW, IN THE LIVING ROOM, A MAN, A WOMAN, AND
KIDS >> I WAS LIKE, "I WON'T CALL THE COPS
I JUST WANT TO GO HOME PLEASE LET ME GO HOME. >> Reporter: AT THAT, SHE SAID,
HER ATTACKER BACKED OFF, AND LIVING-ROOM MAN, THE ONE WITH THE WOMAN AND THE KIDS TOLD HER
HE'D DRIVE HER HOME. GAVE HER A SHIRT TO PARTIALLY COVER HER NAKEDNESS.
>> AND WE HAD BEEN DRIVING AND WE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN
AND I GOT OUT. >> Reporter: YOU JUST JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR
>> YEAH. I JUST GOT OUT AND RAN AND I RAN TO MY MOM'S HOUSE.
>> Reporter: FOUR BLOCKS IN THE WINTER COLD. BAREFOOT
ALL BUT NAKED. AND SHE FELL ON THE FLOOR AT HER MOTHER'S FEET.
>> A GUY, UH, ATTACKED MY DAUGHTER LAST NIGHT AND RAPED HER.
>> Reporter: A LONGMONT POLICE OFFICER DROVE KAYLENE TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE DETECTIVE
SANDIE JONES MET KAYLENE >> IT WAS THE WORST I'D EVER SEEN
HER EYES HAD HEMORRHAGED, SHE HAD MARKS ON THE BACK OF HER NECK
SHE HAD BRUISES ON HER ARMS AND HER LEGS >> Reporter: THE NURSES TOOK
PHOTOS AND COLLECTED THE EVIDENCE OF RAPE >> THIS WAS A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE
CRIME. AND I WANTED TO FIND HIM >> Reporter: SO FIRST, SHE FOUND
THE HOST OF THAT AFTER PARTY KK ATTENDED AND, WHAT WERE THE CHANCES
THE HOUSE JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE A SECURITY CAMERA, WHICH CAPTURED THE MOMENT THAT GUY
HANDED KK HER PURSE, HER PHONE, AND HER CHARGER AS SHE SAT OUTSIDE.
AND THEN, HERE, THEY ARE WALKING AWAY THE PARTY HOST DIDN'T KNOW THE
GUY. SO, ASKED AROUND, GOT A NAME JUAN FIGUEROA.
A NAME DETECTIVE JONES RECOGNIZED >> I KNEW THAT HE WAS ONE OF OUR
CADETS >> Reporter: JUAN HAD ONCE BEEN ENROLLED IN THE EXPLORER PROGRAM
AT LONGMONT PD HE WANTED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.
>> HE DID A RIDE-ALONG WITH ME WHEN I WAS IN THE TRAFFIC UNIT >> Reporter: CHRIS MERKLE WITH
THE LONGMONT PD THEN >> I REMEMBERED HIM -- HANGIN' OUT WITH ME, BEING VERY
TALKATIVE, AND BEING -- YOU KNOW, VERY GUNG-HO >> Reporter: BUT THEN JUAN STOLE
A POLICE DEPARTMENT TASER, AND THEY CAUGHT HIM, AND HE WAS OUT. AND NOW HE WAS A PERSON OF
INTEREST IN A SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE >> AND WE WERE GOING TO FAMILY
MEMBERS AND TALKING WITH HIS FRIENDS AND TRYIN' TO FIND OUT WHERE HE WAS OR WHERE HE LIVED
>> Reporter: NO LUCK BUT THEN, A BREAK. A HUGE ONE
A WOMAN CALLED LONGMONT PD >> MY HUSBAND HAD TO GIVE A GIRL A RIDE HOME THAT WAS WITH OUR
ROOMMATE AND THERE WERE SOME ALLEGATIONS BEING MADE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
>> Reporter: IT WAS JUAN'S HOUSEMATE. SHE GAVE POLICE THE ADDRESS.
SO JONES GOT A SEARCH WARRANT, WENT TO THE HOUSE AND COLLECTED WHAT EVIDENCE SHE COULD.
BUT WHAT SHE REALLY NEEDED WAS A DNA SAMPLE TO COMPARE WITH RESULTS OF THAT RAPE KIT
THE TROUBLE WAS, JUAN SEEMED TO HAVE GONE UNDERGROUND. HE JUST WASN'T AROUND AT ALL
>> NO. I COULDN'T FIND HIM. >> Reporter: BUT WHAT WAS AROUND
TOWN, SPREAD APPARENTLY BY JUAN, WAS A POISONOUS STORY ABOUT KAYLENE.
A STORY COMPLETELY AT ODDS WITH WHAT SHE EXPERIENCED WHAT WAS HIS STORY
>> THAT I WAS DRUNK, AND I WANTED TO HOOK UP, AND -- I GOT UPSET BECAUSE MY EX-BOYFRIEND
WAS GONNA FIND OUT, AND SO I CRIED, "RAPE." >> Reporter: IT WAS LIKE SHE'D
BEEN ATTACKED ALL OVER AGAIN NOW DESPERATELY FRIGHTENED AND HER ATTACKER WAS STILL OUT
THERE SOMEWHERE. >> I UNDERSTAND THE POLICE HAD TO MAKE A CASE TO ARREST HIM
THEY HAD TO GET EVIDENCE SO THEN, IT MADE PEOPLE BE LIKE, "YOU'RE A LIAR OR ELSE HE'D BE
IN JAIL. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED." >> Reporter: SHE FELT LIKE
EVERYBODY WAS JUDGING HER, AND SHE HID AWAY SHE TRIED TO END IT ALL.
WHAT DID YOU DO? >> I ATE A BOTTLE OF PILLS AND I CUT MY WRISTS.
>> SHE JUST FELT LIKE SHE WAS UNDERGROUND, FIVE FEET UNDERGROUND -- AND THAT THERE
WAS NO COMING OUT OF IT. >> Reporter: KAYLENE'S SISTER JAZMINE.
>> IT WAS HARD IT WAS LIKE WE WERE LIVING A NIGHTMARE.
AND IT JUST BROKE MY HEART THAT SHE HAD BEEN HURT IN W -- IN OUR TOWN, THAT WE CALL HOME.
>> Reporter: NOW, IN MARC DETECTIVE CLARK AND DETECTIVE JONES COMPARED NOTES
ONE WOMAN BRUTALLY RAPED THE OTHER MISSING. BOTH HAD BEEN AT THE SAME
SHE'S NEVER GONE FOR THIS LONG >> Reporter: DAYS HAD GONE BY, AND RITA HAD STILL NOT MADE IT
HOME TO HER BOYS BUT ROMAN, RITA'S MIDDLE CHILD, HELD ON TO HOPE.
OR TRIED TO. >> I TRIED TO STAY AS POSITIVE AS I COULD AND JUST THINK, LIKE,
I NEVER WANTED TO SAY THE PHRASE WHAT IF SHE DOESN'T COME HOME BECAUSE THEN I FELT LIKE THAT'D
BE ME GIVING UP. >> Reporter: DETECTIVE SANDIE JONES, INVESTIGATING THE
ASSAULT ON KAYLENE, WAS WORRIED THAT THE SAME THING, OR WORSE, MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO RITA.
>> WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED TO HER? AND IF HE HAD ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THIS, IT'S VERY SCARY VERY, VERY SCARY >> Reporter: WELL, IN FACT,
ACCORDING TO RITA'S COMPANIONS, JUST BEFORE SHE VANISHED, A GUY DID TRY TO HIT ON RITA
>> THEY SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A PERSON WHO HAD WALKED UP TO RITA AND TRIED
STRIKING UP A CONVERSATION WITH HER. AND THEY JUST KINDA TOLD HIM TO
LEAVE AND TO LEAVE HER ALONE >> Reporter: RITA'S COUSIN SAID THE GUY INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS
JUAN JUAN FIGUEROA. AND HE DID GO AWAY, BUT LATER,
SAID THE COUSIN, SOMETIME AFTER 2:00 A.M., THERE HE WAS AGAIN OUTSIDE IN THE PARKING LOT,
WHERE RITA WAS WAITING FOR HER RIDE HOME. JUAN FIGUEROA.
DID YOU KNOW THAT NAME >> I DIDN'T. HE WAS NOT SOMEBODY THAT I WAS
REALLY FAMILIAR WITH >> Reporter: UNTIL, OF COURSE, CLARK SPOKE TO JONES
>> HE HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF A FEW DIFFERENT MINOR THEFTS AND HAD BEEN IN JAIL NUMEROUS TIMES.
>> Reporter: SO, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A GUY WHO HAS SHOWN A PROPENSITY FOR MAKING BAD
DECISIONS. >> YEAH. >> Reporter: EVEN SO, THERE WAS
NO EVIDENCE THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RITA'S DISAPPEARANCE.
>> JUST BECAUSE HE WAS THE LAST PERSON SEEN IN THE PARKING LOT DOESN'T MEAN THAT HE WAS
INVOLVED >> Reporter: NO, BUT MAYBE, THEY FIGURED, MAYBE THEY COULD SEE
HIM OR EVEN SEE HIM APPROACHING RITA IN THE BAR OR IN THE PARKING LOT, NIGHT SHE VANISHED.
UP AND DOWN THE STREETS AND ALLEYS OF DOWNTOWN LONGMONT WERE DOZENS OF PRIVATELY OWNED
SECURITY CAMERAS >> WE DID A CANVASS OF, I WANT TO SAY, 10 OR 15 BLOCKS OF THE
DOWNTOWN AREA OF EVERY BUSINESS, EVERY, YOU KNOW, RESIDENCE THAT HAD CAMERAS IN THAT AREA
>> Reporter: HOW MANY HOURS OF FOOTAGE DID YOU HAVE >> OH, DOZENS.
ONE BUSINESS MAY HAVE SEVERAL CAMERAS WITH DIFFERENT ANGLES, YOU KNOW, OVER THIS, YOU KNOW,
SEVERAL HOUR TIME PERIOD THAT WE HAD TO LOOK AT >> Reporter: IT WAS CHAOTIC, AT
FIRST. LIKE TEARING APART THE HAYSTACK INCH BY INCH LOOKING FOR SOME
GRAINY IMAGE THAT MIGHT BE JUAN OR RITA. AND THEN FINALLY, JUST A
GLIMPSE. BUT IT WAS HER IT WAS RITA ENTERING A BAR IN
DOWNTOWN LONGMONT AT 1:08 A.M. WITH HER COUSIN AND HER COUSIN'S BOYFRIEND.
>> IT KIND OF HELPED START TO FILL IN SOME OF THOSE PIECES, YOU KNOW
'CAUSE WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE AT THE BAR THAT EVENING BUT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE
WHAT WERE THEY DOING WHO ELSE WERE THEY TALKING TO? WAS THERE A FIGHT?
THERE WERE SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD. >> Reporter: LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE,
COULD THEY PROVE JUAN FIGUEROA WAS AT THE BAR THAT NIGHT. DID RITA'S COUSIN HAVE THE RIGHT
NAME, THE RIGHT PERSON AND YES, JUAN WAS THERE. CAMERAS CAPTURED HIM ENTERING
THE BAR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER RITA AND THEN, MINUTES LATER HERE HE
WAS AGAIN, TALKING TO SOMEONE OFF-SCREEN AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION, THE
PERSON HE IS TALKING TO BRIEFLY COMES INTO FRAME IT'S RITA!
>> SO NOW WE WANT TO KNOW WHO ELSE SAW THAT CONVERSATION WHAT WAS THAT CONVERSATION
ABOUT? AGAIN, IT JUST -- IT OPENED UP SO MANY DOORS, 'CAUSE IT FINALLY
STARTED TO FOCUS US A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHAT WE NEEDED TO FIGURE OUT.
>> Reporter: AND THEN, 1:52 A.M., RITA WALKED OUT OF THE BAR.
>> THAT SAME PERSON WAS SEEN WAVING AT HER TRYING TO GET HER ATTENTION.
BUT SHE IGNORED HIM WHEN SHE LEFT THE BAR >> Reporter: A MINUTE LATER,
JUAN MADE HIS WAY TOWARD THE SAME EXIT. AND EVENTUALLY, RITA ENDED UP AT
THAT PARKING LOT WHERE THE COUSIN SAID SHE SAW JUAN FIGUEROA.
HAD HE FOLLOWED HER THERE? THE TROUBLE WAS THERE WAS NO VIDEO FROM THAT PARKING LOT.
SO, WHAT HAPPENED? DID JUAN ASSAULT HER THERE DID HE TAKE HER SOMEWHERE?
OR HAD RITA, LIKE KK, ESCAPED. NOW TWO DETECTIVES, WORKING TWO SEPARATE CASES WERE LOOKING FOR
THE SAME MAN AND ONCE AGAIN, HE WAS IN THE WIND
>> WE WERE TRYING TO TRACK HIM DOWN BUT IT ALWAYS FELT LIKE WE WERE
>> I FELT LIKE I FAILED HER. I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR MY DAUGHTER
>> Reporter: DIANNE ROMERO WAS BROKEN NO SIGN OF HER DAUGHTER RITA
SINCE ST. PATRICK'S DAY. FEELING HELPLESS, SHE PLACED EVERY SHRED OF HOPE SHE HAD IN
DETECTIVE CODY CLARK AND THE LONGMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT >> THEY TOLD US THAT THEY WERE
GONNA TAKE CARE OF US, THEY WERE GONNA HELP US. >> FOR ME, IT WAS ABOUT GIVING
THE FAMILY THAT ANSWER OF WHERE RITA WAS THAT THEY DESERVED THAT CLOSURE
OF KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO HER. >> Reporter: TO DO THAT, INVESTIGATORS DUG INTO THE BAR'S
SECURITY CAMERA VIDEO WHERE THEY SAW RITA HEADING OUT THE DOOR. AND THE GUY WATCHING HER LEAVE
WAS JUAN FIGUEROA, THE SUSPECT IN KAYLENE'S RAPE CASE BUT THERE WAS NO VIDEO TO SHOW
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER SHE LEFT THE BAR. EXCEPT, DETECTIVE CLARK GOT HER
PHONE RECORDS, AND THERE SHE WAS, EERILY, NOT ACTUALLY HER, OF COURSE, BUT HER PHONE, HE
COULD SEE WHERE IT WENT, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT THE PHONE PUT HER NEAR THIS
PARKING LOT, JUST BEHIND THE BARS, AROUND 2:30 IN THE MORNING.
AFTER WHICH, IT SLOWLY MOVED >> SO, SHE ENDS UP WALKING A FEW BLOCKS TO THE NORTH AND THEN HER
PHONE IS STATIONARY. AND IT'S NOT MOVING. IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE FOR
ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR SO AND WHEN WE WENT BACK AND REVIEWED SOME OF THE OTHER
FOOTAGE THAT WE HAD FOUND, WE FOUND A VEHICLE THAT WENT INTO THE SAME AREA WHERE HER PHONE
WAS STATIONARY >> Reporter: WHAT WAS THE VEHICLE?
>> IT WAS A WHITE PICKUP TRUCK AND IT HAD ORANGE CONSTRUCTION MARKER LIGHTS ACROSS THE TOP,
WHICH IS PRETTY DISTINCT BUT ONE OF THOSE SPECIFIC LIGHTS WAS ACTUALLY OUT
SO, IT MADE IT EVEN MORE DISTINCTIVE ON THE VIDEO >> Reporter: 3:03 A.M., RITA'S
PHONE TRAVELED AGAIN >> BUT IT'S NOT MOVING LIKE SOMEBODY'S WALKING
IT'S MOVING SO QUICKLY LIKE SOMEBODY'S DRIVING >> Reporter: IT'S IN A CAR
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: AND RIGHT AT THAT SAME TIME, 3:03 A.M., THERE WAS
THE TRUCK AGAIN. >> HER PHONE PINGS IN THAT AREA AND THAT SAME VEHICLE TRAVELS
RIGHT THROUGH THAT AREA AT THAT EXACT TIME >> Reporter: A MINUTE LATER,
ANOTHER SECURITY CAMERA CAUGHT THE SAME TRUCK AND IT WASN'T JUST ANY TRUCK
DETECTIVE JONES CONFIRMED IT THAT WAS THE TRUCK JUAN WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE WORKED ON
KAYLENE'S CASE >> IT JUST CONTINUED TO KIND OF PUSH US IN THE DIRECTION THAT HE
KNEW A LOT MORE THAN -- THAN WE INITIALLY THOUGHT. THAT HE WASN'T JUST THE LAST
PERSON SEEN WITH HER BEFORE SHE LEFT, BUT THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN THE LAST PERSON WITH HER,
PERIOD >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS MORE DETECTIVE CLARK GLEANED FROM
RITA'S CELL PHONE RECORDS. >> AT ABOUT 3:07 IN THE MORNING, HER PHONE DIALED 911
WHEN THE OPERATOR ANSWERED, THERE WAS NOBODY THERE IT HAD ALREADY HUNG UP
>> Reporter: DISPATCH CALLED THE NUMBER BACK TWICE. BUT THERE WAS NO ANSWER.
THEY TRIED TO TRACE THE CALL, BUT COULDN'T PINPOINT ITS LOCATION
A 911-CALL FOR HELP, AND THEN, NOTHING. JUST AN AWFUL, DEATHLY SILENCE
>> MY HEART SANK AND THAT'S WHEN I KNEW THAT THIS WASN'T JUST A MISSING PERSON
THAT SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAD HAPPENED >> Reporter: AND SO, HE CALLED
HER FAMILY INTO THE POLICE STATION AND SAT THEM DOWN AND DELIVERED THE NEWS
RITA WASN'T COMING HOME. >> IT WAS AWFUL. IT WAS HORRIBLE TO TEAR AWAY
THAT HOPE FROM THEM THAT THEY HAD BEEN HOLDING ON TO AND TELLING THEM TO NOW PREPARE FOR
THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING IMAGINABLE >> Reporter: BUT THE FAMILY?
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO ACCEPT THAT. I STILL HAD SOME HOPE AND SOME FAITH THAT SHE WAS STILL GONNA
COME BACK. >> Reporter: AND MAYBE IT WAS HOPE, OR SIMPLY DENIAL
BUT RITA'S FAMILY WAS NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP IN FACT THEY WERE JUST GETTING
STARTED. THEY BEGAN MEETING AT THIS PARK NOT FAR FROM RITA'S HOUSE,
HOLDING VIGILS, STRATEGIZING ABOUT SEARCHES, DISTRIBUTING FLIERS
AND THAT'S WHEN DIANNE NOTICED SOMETHING THAT GAVE HER A LITTLE COMFORT.
>> THERE WAS THIS TREE IT WAS SMALL AND IT WAS IN MARCH, YOU KNOW?
AND SO THINGS -- AREN'T QUITE BLOOMING IT WAS KIND OF BARE, AND IT
LOOKED LONELY. SO, WE STARTED DECORATING THIS TREE FOR RITA.
THEN, WE JUST KIND OF MADE IT OUR TREE >> Reporter: BUT THOUGH THE
SEARCHING CONTINUED, THE HARSH REALITY HOVERED LIKE A CLOUD IT WAS SURELY A BODY THEY WERE
LOOKING FOR. >> THERE WAS A PART OF ME THAT WANTED TO FIND HER MORE THAN
ANYTHING AND THEN, IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I'M LIKE, BUT CAN YOU DEAL
WITH IT IF YOU FIND HER, DIANNE? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? >> Reporter: WHY WAS IT SO
IMPORTANT FOR -- TO YOU TO FIND HER, FIND HER REMAINS? >> 'CAUSE SHE'S OUR SISTER
AND WE WANT HER HOME >> WHENEVER A LOVED ONE PASSES AWAY, LAY 'EM TO REST, YOU
CREMATE THEM, YOU BURY THEM. WE DIDN'T GET THAT >> Reporter: IMAGINE THE TASK,
FIND HER FIND HER BODY. SOMEWHERE AROUND LONGMONT,
COLORADO THE TROUBLE WAS SHE COULD BE ANYWHERE
5 MILES AWAY, 50 MILES AWAY. COULD BE THAT WAY OR THAT WAY OR IN THE MOUNTAINS BEHIND ME
BACK THAT WAY. THE TASK WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE
BUT OF COURSE, THEY HAD TO TRY AND THEY CERTAINLY DID BUT NOT JUST FOR RITA.
DETECTIVES CLARK AND JONES KNEW THE KEY TO FINDING RITA AND SOLVING KK'S CASE WAS FINDING
JUAN FIGUEROA. BY NOW, THEY HAD AN ARREST WARRANT FOR HIM, FOR ASSAULTING
KK A VIRTUALLY COLORADO-WIDE SEARCH WAS ON FOR HIM, AND THAT TRUCK
OF HIS >> WE STARTED BACKTRACKING THE SAME THING WE HAD DONE BEFORE.
WE WENT TO HIS SISTERS' HOUSE, THE TWO SISTERS THAT LIVE IN LONGMONT
WE WENT TO HIS MOM'S HOUSE, AND I SPOKE TO HIS MOM AND SHE HAD NO IDEA WHERE --
WHERE HE WAS >> Reporter: THEY ALSO CONTACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AROUND
THE COUNTRY AND TOLD THEM TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A WHITE PICKUP TRUCK
AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW, WITHIN A FEW DAYS THEY GOT A CALL JUAN'S TRUCK HAD BEEN SPOTTED
NOT IN COLORADO, BUT 1000 MILES AWAY >> WHEN WE LEARNED THAT, IT WAS
LIKE, "DID HE GET AWAY IS THIS IT >> Reporter: IT WAS INFURIATING.
THE MAN SUSPECTED OF RAPING ONE WOMAN AND POSSIBLY MURDERING A SECOND WAS LIKE A GHOST.
AND RITA WAS STILL MISSING AND KK, KAYLENE, WAS LIVING IN FEAR
WHERE WAS JUAN FIGUEROA? >> IT WAS A LOT OF ANXIETY I WOULDN'T GO GROCERY SHOPPING
I WOULDN'T GO TO THE STORE FOR ANYTHING >> Reporter: ALWAYS LOOKING
AROUND YOU TO SEE IF HE'S THERE. >> YEAH. I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS
>> Reporter: IF HE'S DONE IT TWICE, HE COULD DO IT AGAIN. >> RIGHT
AT ANY MOMENT. AND SO, TRYING TO TRACK HIM DOWN BECAME A PRIORITY.
>> Reporter: AND THEN, INVESTIGATORS GOT WORD, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
HAD A VIDEO THEY MIGHT WANT TO SEE. A WHITE VEHICLE WITH PLATES
MATCHING FIGUEROA'S TRUCK, AND SURELY THAT WAS HIM INSIDE IT, HAD JUST CROSSED INTO MEXICO
1000 MILES FROM LONGMONT >> WHEN WE LEARNED THAT HE HAD GONE INTO MEXICO, IT WAS REALLY
DEFLATING TO KINDA FEEL LIKE, "DID HE GET AWAY IS THIS IT
IS THIS WHERE THE STORY ENDS?" >> Reporter: MAYBE NOT QUITE DETECTIVES DISCOVERED HE'D
GOTTEN HIMSELF A NEW PHONE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE NUMBER
THEY TRACED IT TO THE TOWN OF PIEDRAS NEGRAS, JUST ACROSS THE TEXAS BORDER
>> SO, WE'RE KINDA WATCHING THAT AS WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY HE'S DOING, WHERE
HE'S GOING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AND FOR THE MOST PART, THAT PHONE WAS SUPER STATIONARY
>> Reporter: SOMEWHERE HERE IN PIEDRAS NEGRAS, FIGUEROA WAS LAYING LOW, APPARENTLY BEING
CAREFUL. AND IF HE GOT A WHIFF POLICE WERE GETTING CLOSE, SURELY, HE'D
FLEE AGAIN SO, HOW TO CATCH HIM SOMEHOW, THEY HAD
WHEREVER HE WAS HIDING AND THEY HAD AN IDEA >> WHILE HE WAS IN MEXICO, JUAN
WAS ACTUALLY TALKING WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE AND WAS ASKING THEM FOR MONEY
>> Reporter: WELL, IF HE'S SHORT OF MONEY, THAT MIGHT BE A HOOK >> WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
>> HE WANTED MONEY BY WIRE TRANSFER SO THAT WAS THE FIRST THING.
WE KNEW IF HE'S GETTING MONEY THAT WAY, THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT PRETTY DARN CLOSE WHERE HE'S AT.
>> Reporter: A FEMALE FRIEND OF JUAN'S, ONCE RELUCTANT, AGREED TO COOPERATE
CALL IT AN ATTEMPTED STING FIRST THIS, FROM THE FRIEND, FRIDAY, MARCH 23rd, 2018,
11:35 P.M., "I GOT SOME MONEY. HOURS LATER, JUAN, SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2018, 10:45 A.M., "HOW
MUCH?" THE NEXT DAY, JUAN AGAIN, SUNDAY, MARCH 25th, 2018,
2:27 P.M., "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT I GET THE MONEY.
"YEAH, IN MEXICO ABOUT TO SELL MY TRUCK." FIGUEROA TOLD HIS FRIEND TO WIRE
THE MONEY TO PIEDRAS NEGRAS, SO THE COPS GAVE HER THE MONEY TO USE, AND SHE SENT IT, AND
FIGUEROA PICKED IT UP, WHICH GAVE THE DETECTIVES A BETTER IDEA, AT LEAST, OF WHERE HE WAS.
BUT GETTING AN EXACT ADDRESS, ARRESTING HIM IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, EXTRADITING HIM BACK?
NOT SO EASY. AND THEN, TOTALLY UNEXPECTED, THEY GOT LUCKY
>> WE END UP GETTING A CALL FROM A FORMER EMPLOYER OF JUAN'S. >> Reporter: WHO TOLD THEM HE'D
FIRED FIGUEROA FOR STEALING. SO NOW, HE WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP CATCH HIM.
AND HE HAD AN IDEA OF HIS OWN. >> HE TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD A JOB FOR HIM.
THE JOB WASN'T REAL. IT WAS MADE UP AND HE TOLD JUAN THAT HE WAS
GONNA PAY HIM SOME EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. >> Reporter: THE CATCH WAS THAT
THIS PRIMO JOB WAS IN COLORADO IT'S -- IT'S LIKE YOU'VE GOT VOLUNTARY DEPUTIES WORKING FOR
YOU. >> YEAH. IT WAS DEFINITELY A COMMUNITY
EFFORT >> Reporter: AND FIGUEROA, APPARENTLY DESPERATE FOR THE
MONEY, TOOK THE BAIT REMEMBER, DETECTIVES HAD BEEN MONITORING HIS PHONE, AND ONE
DAY WITHOUT WARNING, IT STARTED TO MOVE. >> ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT JUMPS
OVER THE BORDER. >> Reporter: HE WAS DRIVING BACK
THE BORDER CROSSING WAS IN A LITTLE PLACE CALLED EAGLE PASS, TEXAS, WHERE A CUSTOMS AND
BORDER PROTECTION OFFICER, JUST FOLLOWING PROCEDURE, ASKED HIM WHAT HE HAD BEEN DOING IN
MEXICO >> HE EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS AT A FUNERAL FOR HIS GRANDMOTHER.
AND THE AGENT TOLD HIM, "OH, I'M REALLY SORRY TO HEAR THAT. WHEN DID SHE PASS AWAY?"
AND HE COULDN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION >> Reporter: OH.
>> AND THEN HE ASKED, "WELL, WHERE WAS SHE BURIED?" AND HE COULDN'T ANSWER THAT
QUESTION EITHER. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE STARTED TO SWEAT
THAT KIND OF CLUED THEM IN PRETTY QUICKLY THAT SOMETHING WAS AMISS.
>> Reporter: THE OFFICER LOOKED UP FIGUEROA'S NAME AND THAT'S WHEN HE SAW IT.
AN ARREST WARRANT FOR KAYLENE'S CASE, WANTED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT BACK IN COLORADO
A SERGEANT FROM THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S OFFICE WENT TO MEET HIM.
BUT WHEN HE TOLD FIGUEROA WHAT THE WARRANT WAS FOR, JUAN DIDN'T SEEM TOO WORRIED
>> THAT'S THE ONLY WARRANT THAT'S IT? >> YES
>> FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT? >> YEAH. >> SWEET
>> HE WAS CUFFED AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. >> I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HAVING TO
GET $200 TO GET BACK TO COLORADO >> Reporter: CHRIS MERKLE, THE
VERY DETECTIVE WHO'D MET JUAN FIGUEROA AS A YOUNG POLICE CADET, WENT TO TEXAS TO PICK HIM
UP, AND DROVE ALL THE WAY BACK TO COLORADO, 19 HOURS ON THE ROAD
DURING WHICH, JUAN TALKED ALMOST NON-STOP, HIS CHATTER PICKED UP BY THE DETECTIVES' RECORDER.
>> DEFINITELY COULD USE A STRETCH AND A SMOKE BREAK. WHATEVER
THIS -- BELT IS JAMMING INTO MY RIBS SUCKS.
>> KNOWING THAT THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU, ON THE WARRANT WITH KAYLENE, YOU KNOW, RAPED AND
ALMOST KILLED HER, AND THEN KNOWING THAT WE ARE PRETTY MUCH SURE THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN
RITA'S DISAPPEARANCE AND PROBABLY DID SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR, MADE FOR A REALLY LONG
RIDE >> Reporter: THEY TOWED FIGUEROA'S TRUCK BACK TO
COLORADO, TOO. >> WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS POTENTIAL EVIDENCE IN THAT
TRUCK. AND SO THAT WAS A BIG THING. WE REALLY WANTED THAT TRUCK.
>> Reporter: KAYLENE HEARD ABOUT THE ARREST, OF COURSE. >> Reporter: WHAT WERE YOUR
THOUGHTS RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT? >> IT WAS MIXED. IT WAS HAPPINESS, BUT ALSO LIKE,
"OKAY. HERE WE GO." >> Reporter: RELIEF, YES, AND
DREAD ABOUT HAVING TO FACE THAT MAN IN A COURTROOM
KAYLENE WAS ASSAULTED, JUAN FIGUEROA WAS SITTING IN A BOULDER COUNTY JAIL ON RAPE AND
ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES BUT DETECTIVES WERE FAR FROM DONE
THEY WERE STILL TRYING TO BUILD THE CASE AGAINST HIM FOR RITA'S DISAPPEARANCE.
ONE THING WAS PAINFULLY CLEAR -- WHAT STARTED OUT AS A MISSING PERSON'S CASE WAS NOW A HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATION. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ANYBODY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE IF
YOUR DAUGHTER IS MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD, THE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING IT AS A MURDER,
AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER >> YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S
GONNA FEEL LIKE TILL IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS. AND I HAD PEOPLE WHO I KNOW WHO
SAID, "I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE," YOU KNOW? "I LOST MY CHILD."
AND I'M LIKE, "YOU GOT TO BURY YOUR CHILD I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY CHILD IS."
>> Reporter: IN DESPERATION, RITA'S EX-BOYFRIEND DAVID EVEN REACHED OUT TO US BACK IN
2018 TO SPOTLIGHT RITA'S CASE FOR "DATELINE'S" "MISSING IN AMERICA" SERIES.
>> FIND INFORMATION TO LEAD TO AN ARREST, TO HER BODY, ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP BRING JUSTICE OR
BRING HER HOME THAT WAS MY MISSION EVERY DAY. >> Reporter: BUT OVER TIME, THE
HOPE OF FINDING RITA, OR AT LEAST FINDING OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER, WAS SLOWLY SLIPPING
AWAY >> JUST SEARCHING, ENDLESS SEARCHING TO COME TO NO
FRUITION IT WAS -- IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME
>> Reporter: THERE WAS ONE THING THOUGH INVESTIGATORS HAD BEEN BOTHERED
BY IT EVER SINCE THEY SEIZED FIGUEROA'S PICKUP TRUCK. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD TOLD US
THAT THAT TRUCK WAS A DUMP ALL THE TIME >> Reporter: BUT NOW
MESSY, YES BUT CLEAR TO INVESTIGATORS IT HAD BEEN SCRUBBED DOWN MANY
TIMES OVER >> JUAN HAD DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO CLEAN THAT TRUCK
UP >> Reporter: STILL, IF HE CLEANED IT, MAYBE HE MISSED
SOMETHING. SO THEY TORE IT APART, SWABBED EVERY SURFACE.
AND THAT'S WHEN THEY NOTICED, VERY FAINT, A MARK ON THE PASSENGER SEAT
>> A STAINED AREA WHERE IT ALMOST LOOKED LIKE SOMEBODY HAD TRIED TO CLEAN THAT.
>> Reporter: THEY SWABBED IT ANYWAY, SENT IT OFF TO THE DNA LAB.
BUT -- >> IT CAME BACK AS A MIXTURE OF NUMEROUS PEOPLE.
SO BASICALLY, THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT DNA PROFILES THERE AND WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE
BELONGED TO WHO, ESSENTIALLY >> Reporter: THAT HAD TO BE FRUSTRATING.
>> OH, IT WAS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING. >> Reporter: A DEAD END.
THEY JUST COULDN'T TIE JUAN FIGUEROA TO RITA'S DISAPPEARANCE.
BUT THEN THE LAB SENT BACK ANOTHER SET OF TEST RESULTS FROM KAYLENE'S CASE
THEY COMPARED A SAMPLE OF JUAN'S DNA TO HER RAPE KIT, AND IT WAS A PERFECT MATCH.
>> THEY WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT HIS DNA WAS ON KAYLENE. >> Reporter: THAT TIED THE KNOT.
>> THAT DID. >> Reporter: THEY SET A TRIAL DATE, 2019
AND KAYLENE WOULD BE THE STAR WITNESS. BUT THE THOUGHT OF HAVING TO
TESTIFY ABOUT THE WORST DAY OF HER LIFE, IN FRONT OF THE MAN ON TRIAL FOR RAPING HER AND THE
PEOPLE WHO SAID SHE LIED ABOUT IT -- SHE WASN'T SURE SHE COULD DO IT.
>> I WAS LIKE, "I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE THINKING, LIKE, I'M -- I'M TRASH AND A SKANK OR
SOMETHING. AND I JUST WANT IT TO GO AWAY. >> Reporter: AND EVEN THOUGH THE
TRIAL WAS STILL MONTHS AWAY -- >> I WAS GETTING MESSAGES AFTER MESSAGES, DAILY.
>> Reporter: FACEBOOK MESSAGES, CALLS, AND TEXTS FROM NUMBERS SHE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE
WHAT DID THEY SAY, THESE MESSAGES >> THAT THEY WERE GONNA, LIKE,
HURT MY FAMILY AND STUFF AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW, LIKE, THAT I'M A LIAR AND I'M A SLUT AND
JUST VERY HATEFUL, HATEFUL THINGS >> Reporter: IT GOT SO BAD, SAID
KAYLENE, THAT SHE FLED LONGMONT AND SECRETLY MOVED TO THE TOWN OF GREELEY, 35 MILES AWAY, TO
LAY LOW AND TRY, AT LEAST, TO LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND HER. A TRIAL MONTHS AWAY.
IT WAS QUICK FOR THE LAW BUT TORTURE FOR KAYLENE. AND DIANNE, STILL SEARCHING FOR
RITA WHEN THEY WENT AHEAD WITH KK'S CASE, SORT OF FULL SPEED AHEAD,
WERE YOU FEELIN' LIKE THEY WERE ABANDONING RITA AT ALL >> NO.
NO WE KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING TO HELP RITA'S CASE
SHE'S ONLY GONNA MAKE IT STRONGER FOR US. >> Reporter: CHRISTMAS CAME, THE
FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT RITA FOR BOYS WITHOUT THEIR MOTHER, THERE WAS REALLY NOTHING TO
CELEBRATE. SO DETECTIVE CODY CLARK DECIDED TO HELP.
>> THINKING ABOUT HER KIDS NOT HAVING A MOM AROUND FOR CHRISTMAS HIT A NERVE WITH ME.
I BROUGHT HER BOYS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS I HAD REALLY COME TO CARE ABOUT
THEM AS A FAMILY >> Reporter: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HER, IS THERE ANYTHING IN
PARTICULAR THAT YOU MISS >> HER >> JUST HER.
>> Reporter: ON RITA'S BIRTHDAY, THEY WENT TO THE LITTLE PARK TO DECORATE THE TREE THAT SEEMED TO
STAND FOR HER. >> DON'T HAVE HER HERE TO NURTURE AND TO HOLD.
BUT I'LL JUST, LIKE, TOUCH THE LEAVES, YOU KNOW, THE BRANCHES, AND JUST TALK TO RITA.
>> Reporter: SHE'S THERE >> I JUST FEEL SHE'S THERE YEAH
>> Reporter: AND THROUGH ALL THE GRIEF, IT WAS DIANNE WHO KEPT THEM ALL GOING
>> SHE'S, LIKE, THE LOG OF THE TREE, AND WE'RE ALL THE BRANCHES
>> MY GRANDMA ENCOURAGED ALL OF US TO JUST NEVER GIVE UP, PRAY AS HARD AS YOU CAN
SHE WILL BE FOUND. NO MATTER WHAT, SHE WILL BE FOUND.
>> Reporter: BUT WHEN, AND HOW IT WOULD TAKE A MIRACLE TO FIND HER SOMEWHERE OUT HERE
OR MAYBE JUAN FIGUEROA WOULD TALK THOUGH IT SEEMED UNLIKELY.
HE HAD LAWYERED UP NO, FIGUEROA WASN'T TALKING TO THE COPS
BUT HE WAS TALKING, MAYBE TOO MUCH >> IT'S PROBABLY AT LEAST PRETTY
CLOSE TO FOUR FEET BURIED.
FOR KAYLENE'S SEX ASSUALT CASE, HE TALKED. TALKED NON-STOP.
JUST NOT TO POLICE JUAN DID HIS TALKING TO HIS CELL MATES.
>> I KNEW THAT HE WAS TELLING THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON SO IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF
HEARING IT FROM HIS OWN MOUTH. AND WE EVENTUALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET THAT -- THAT BUG IN
THERE. >> Reporter: MEANING, A HIDDEN WIRE TO RECORD WHATEVER FIGUEROA
WAS BLABBING ABOUT THE HOPE WAS HE'D SAY SOMETHING ANYTHING ABOUT RITA.
AND SURE ENOUGH, IT TOOK A WHILE, BUT, HERE WAS, WELL, IT WAS SOMETHING ANYWAY
>> I WAS THERE AND I SAW IT. >> WERE YOU THERE WHEN IT WENT DOWN
>> YEAH. >> HE WAS TRYING TO SAY THAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAD COMMITTED THE
MURDER, BUT THAT HE WAS -- >> Reporter: OH, OKAY. >> -- THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED
WAS -- WAS - >> Reporter: GOTCHA. >> -- WHAT HE WAS ALLUDING TO.
BUT THAT HE HAD BEEN THE ONE WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR BURYING HER BODY
THIS CELLMATE WAS TRYING TO KINDA PRY A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION OUT OF HIM ON HIS
OWN AND ASKED HIM WHERE IT WAS AT >> THE CORPSE?
SO IT'S JUST RIGHT OUT THERE IN THE OPEN >> IT'S BURIED
IT'S PROBABLY AT LEAST PRETTY CLOSE TO FOUR FEET BURIED. AND THEY WON'T FIND IT
THEY REALLY WON'T FIND IT UNLESS, THEY -- PUT, LIKE, SOME KIND OF -- PROBE INTO MY BRAIN
>> THAT STATEMENT -- THAT KINDA SENT SHIVERS DOWN MY SPINE JUST BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT CLEARLY
SHOWED THAT HE WAS INVOLVED. >> Reporter: STILL, THEY WANTED MORE SAID PROSECUTOR
MICHELLE SUDANO. >> WE HADN'T LOCATED HER BODY. WE DIDN'T HAVE A CRIME SCENE OR
ANYTHING TO GO ON. AND SO THERE WAS SO MUCH WORK THAT HAD TO GO INTO BUILDING
THAT CASE, BECAUSE NOT ONLY WE WERE PROVING THAT JUAN FIGUEROA WAS HER MURDERER, BUT WE ALSO
HAD TO PROVE THAT SHE HAD IN FACT BEEN KILLED AND TO PROVE MURDER, THEY HAD TO
BUY TIME AND THE WAY TO DO IT, THEY HAD DECIDED, WAS TO SECURE A
CONVICTION IN KAYLENE'S ASSAULT CASE THAT WAS THE JOB OF SUDANO'S
CO-COUNSEL KATHARINA BOOTH >> IT WAS VERY HIGH PRESSURE WE KNEW IT WAS EXTREMELY
ESSENTIAL, OBVIOUSLY, TO KEEP HIM IN CUSTODY, TO BE ABLE TO GET A CONVICTION
>> Reporter: IN MARCH 2019, OVER A YEAR SINCE THE ATTACK ON KAYLENE, PROSECUTOR BOOTH GOT
HER SHOT WHEN THE TRIAL OPENED AT THE BOULDER COUNTY COURTHOUSE
WHAT KIND OF PERSON WERE YOU UP AGAINST? >> SOMEONE WHO -- CRAVES THE
POWER AND CONTROL OF ABUSING OTHERS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN >> Reporter: PROSECUTOR BOOTH
LAID IT ALL OUT FOR THE JURY THERE WAS THE RAPE KIT, OF COURSE, WITH THE CRUCIAL DNA
LINK TO JUAN FIGUEROA. BUT ALSO, EVIDENCE OF KK'S NEAR FATAL INJURIES
WHICH WERE WELL DOCUMENTED AND SHOWN TO THE JURY. >> THIS WAS CLEARLY A RAPE AND
ATTEMPTED MURDER >> Reporter: I CAN SEE SOME DEFENSE ATTORNEY SAYING, "WELL,
YOU CAN SAY THAT IF YOU WANT, BUT LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKE ROUGH SEX AND LIKE TO BE CHOKED WHEN
THEY'RE HAVING SEX." SO HOW CAN YOU PROVE IT WAS ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. AND -- THOSE WERE SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT WERE MADE
>> BUT THERE WERE A LOT -- A LOT OF OTHER EVIDENCE THAT SHOWED HIS GUILT.
>> Reporter: FOR EXAMPLE, SAID PROSECUTOR BOOTH, VIDEO SHOT INSIDE THE PARTY HOUSE WHERE
KAYLENE WENT AFTER THE BARS. REMEMBER WHEN KAYLENE STEPPED OUTSIDE TO GET SOME FRESH AIR AT
THE AFTER-PARTY, SHE SAID SHE'D LEFT HER PHONE CHARGING INSIDE THE HOUSE.
WELL, HERE IT IS, ON THE HOME SECURITY SYSTEM, PLUGGED INTO THE WALL
AND THEN, MOMENTS LATER, JUAN FIGUEROA COMES INTO FRAME SITS DOWN WITH HIS ARM ODDLY
TUCKED AWAY, STANDS UP, AND TOSSES THE PHONE ONTO THE COUCH. >> THAT PART STANDS OUT TO ME,
TO JUST REALLY REFLECT HOW PREMEDITATED THIS WAS, OF MAKING SURE SHE DIDN'T HAVE A CHARGED
PHONE. >> Reporter: BUT THE PROSECUTION'S KEY WITNESS, OF
COURSE, WAS KAYLENE HERSELF, WHO LIVED TO TELL THE STORY AND NOW STEELED HERSELF TO FACE
JUAN FIGUEROA. >> IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL TRIAL.
AND HE WAS DISGUSTING. HE LAUGHED HE LAUGHED
>> Reporter: IN THE TRIAL? >> IT WAS A JOKE TO HIM, THE WHOLE TRIAL.
SO HE JUST LAUGHED >> Reporter: WHEN KAYLENE TOOK THE STAND THE DEFENSE CHALLENGED
EVERY BIT OF HER STORY AND FOCUSED ON THIS VIDEO. KAYLENE GOING UP THE STAIRS TO
WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A BEDROOM. WILLINGLY, SAID THE DEFENSE. NONSENSE, SAID THE PROSECUTOR.
>> YES, SHE WALKED UP THOSE STAIRS, BUT HE HAD -- CONTRIVED AN ENTIRE STORY TO GET HER
THERE, STARTING ALL THE WAY BACK AT THE PARTY THAT THEY HAD BEEN AT, IN ORDER TO GET HER AWAY AND
LURE HER AWAY FROM THE SAFETY OF OTHERS >> Reporter: AND THEN FOR MORE
THAN A YEAR, SAID KAYLENE, SHE'D BEEN THREATENED, HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF MAKING IT ALL UP, HAD
BEEN SURROUNDED BY DOUBTS AND WHISPERS AND MALICIOUS GOSSIP. AND NOW, AFTER A 10-DAY TRIAL,
12 STRANGERS WOULD JUDGE WOULD THEY BELIEVE HER >> I WAS JUST SCARED 'CAUSE I'M
LIKE, THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME FOR THE FACT EVERYBODY SAID I WAS A LIAR
>> Reporter: AND THERE SHE SAT, IN COURT, ONLY A FEW FEET AWAY FROM THE MAN WHO NEARLY TOOK HER
LIFE AND SHE WAITED, WAITED FOR THAT JURY TO DECIDE
UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS WAITING FOR HER OUTSIDE. >> COMING UP THIS SUNDAY ON
"DATELINE" - >> THEY SHINED A FLASHLIGHT, AND THAT'S WHEN THEY SAW THE BODY.
DAVE WAS SHOT TWICE. >> SHE OBVIOUSLY KNEW. I NEED A NEW IDENTITY.
>> YOU CAN SEE THEM AT THE BAR SHE'S BUILDING THAT TRUST. >> SHE'S LAYING ON THE FLOOR
BLOOD UNDER HER TOWEL. >> EVERY SECOND SHE'S FREE SHE'S ABLE TO KILL ANOTHER PERSON.
>> SHE KEPT SAYING, "I'M SORRY." >> I WOULD LOVE TO BELIEVE HER BUT AFTER ALL OF THIS, I JUST
DON'T KNOW >> THAT'S SUNDAY AT 7:00,
THE WAIT WAS FINALLY OVER. THE JURY HAD MADE THEIR DECISION
KAYLENE'S FAMILY AND RITA'S FAMILY TOOK THEIR SEATS INSIDE A CROWDED COURTROOM.
KAYLENE HERSELF, NERVES AS TIGHT AS THEY'D EVER BEEN. AND THE VERDICT WAS --
GUILTY >> I JUST BROKE DOWN >> Reporter: 'CAUSE IT WAS
SOMEBODY RECOGNIZING YOU'RE RIGHT? >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: ALL ALONG >> UH-HUH. >> Reporter: AND THOSE OTHER
PEOPLE WERE WRONG. THAT FINALLY WAS A MOMENT OF VINDICATION THAT YOU DESPERATELY
NEEDED, HUH? >> UH-HUH. I JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO HEAR
IT >> Reporter: RELIEVED? YES.
BUT -- >> IT FELT LIKE A WEIGHT HAD BEEN LIFTED.
BUT IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, I KNEW IT WASN'T OVER. AND NOW WE HAVE TO START RITA'S,
AND -- >> Reporter: AND YOU FELT THAT AS A RESPONSIBILITY, YOURSELF?
>> UH-HUH. >> I FELT LIKE I HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO WHAT I
COULD AFTER THAT POINT TO HELP, AND I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, "LET'S FOCUS ON RITA NOW.
WHERE IS RITA? >> Reporter: MAYBE NOT SO EASY BECAUSE WITHIN HOURS, KAYLENE'S
LIFE WAS IN DANGER, AGAIN. SHE AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY HAD GATHERED AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT
TO CELEBRATE >> WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES I WAS THERE, I HAD GOTTEN A VERY
GRUESOME, LIKE, DEATH THREAT SENT TO ME FROM A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT AND JUST SAYING REALLY
NASTY STUFF. CALLING ME, LIKE, THE B WORD AND SAYING WE'RE GONNA SET YOUR BODY
ON FIRE WHILE YOU'RE ALIVE >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS MORE IN THAT MESSAGE.
"I'M GONNA CHOKE THE -- OUT OF YOU. "I WILL FIND YOU, BITCH.
YOUR GONNA DIE JUST LIKE ALL THE WHORES." >> Reporter: WHAT WAS THAT LIKE
TO GET THAT? >> I SHUT DOWN I COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN
>> Reporter: KAYLENE TOLD THE POLICE, BUT THEY COULDN'T TRACK DOWN THE SENDER.
AND JAZMINE SAW HER SISTER UNRAVEL. >> I JUST REMEMBER HER SAYING,
"THIS IS NEVER GONNA END." >> Reporter: THE VERY NEXT DAY KAYLENE LEFT
LEFT TOWN. MOVED ALL THE WAY TO KANSAS. >> Reporter: IT'S WHAT SHE
NEEDED TO DO IN ORDER TO KEEP HERSELF SAFE >> MEANWHILE, BACK IN LONGMONT,
DETECTIVE CODY CLARK WAS STILL LOOKING EVERY DAY FOR RITA >> THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE
FROM THE COMMUNITY OF, YOU KNOW, "WHY HASN'T RITA BEEN FOUND? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO FIND HER
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO BRING SOMEBODY TO JUSTICE? AND --
>> Reporter: I THINK THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT THESE, YOU KNOW, THAT ANYBODY THAT WATCHES
TELEVISION, THESE THINGS GET SOLVED IN 45 MINUTES >> AND THIS IS GOING ON FOR
MONTHS, AND THEN YEARS >> YEAH, IT -- YOU KNOW, IT JUST ADDED TO THE ANXIETY FROM THE
COMMUNITY, FEELING LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THIS
>> Reporter: THEY HADN'T OF COURSE BUT TIME, EVERY DAY, EVERY MONTH
OF DAYS, SOMEHOW MADE IT FEEL WORSE. >> IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
I MEAN, HOW DO YOU PROVE SOMEBODY'S DEAD IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BODY?
>> Reporter: HE WAS STUCK. RITA'S FAMILY FELT STUCK, TOO. >> IT WAS JUST STAGNANT THERE
FOR SUCH A LONG TIME >> Reporter: SO, YOU WERE SURE IT WAS HIM, BUT THEY COULDN'T DO
ANYTHING >> YEAH. >> Reporter: THEN, A VERY BIG
SURPRISE REMEMBER THAT STAIN INVESTIGATORS FOUND ON THE
PASSENGER SEAT OF FIGUEROA'S PICKUP TRUCK THEY EXTRACTED DNA BACK THEN,
BUT THE BEST THEY COULD GET WAS A JUMBLE SEVERAL HUMANS, BUT NO WAY TO
I.D. ANY ONE OF THEM BUT ALMOST THREE YEARS LATER, THE COLORADO BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATION CALLED DETECTIVE CLARK AND -- >> TOLD US ABOUT SOME NEW
TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT STAIN AND BE ABLE TO TELL US NOT JUST THAT THERE
WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE'S DNA PATTERNS, BUT WHO THEY BELONGED TO
>> Reporter: SO, THEY RE-TESTED THE STAIN AND SENT DETECTIVE CLARK THE RESULTS.
>> WHEN THEY SENT BACK THOSE RESULTS SAYING THAT IT WAS RITA'S DNA IN THAT STAIN, I
DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT I WAS ELATED
YOU KNOW LIKE - >> Reporter: WELL, MY -- MY
GOODNESS YEAH >> IT WAS -- IT WAS LIKE THAT
ONE FINAL PIECE THAT PHYSICAL PIECE OF EVIDENCE. >> Reporter: SHE WAS IN THERE.
>> SHE WAS IN HIS TRUCK. >> Reporter: IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, A GRAND JURY INDICTED
JUAN FIGUEROA FOR THE MURDER AND KIDNAPPING OF RITA GUTIERREZ-GARCIA.
WASN'T AN EASY CASE, MIND YOU, EVEN WITH THAT PRECIOUS BIT OF DNA.
STILL, IT WAS THE BEST THEY WERE GOING TO GET >> SO, WE HAD CERTAINLY NOT ALL
THE EVIDENCE THAT WE NEEDED, BUT WE WERE CONFIDENT IN THE CASE. >> Reporter: FIGUEROA, ALREADY
SENTENCED TO 93 YEARS FOR ASSAULTING KK WAS CONFIDENT TOO. TOLD CELLMATES HE THOUGHT HE
COULD BEAT THE MURDER CHARGE RITA'S MOTHER DIANNE, MEANWHILE, THOUGH GLAD HE WAS GOING TO FACE
SOME KIND OF JUSTICE, HAD ABOUT GIVEN UP HOPE OF ACTUALLY FINDING RITA
>> IT WAS HURTING ME IT WAS FRUSTRATING ME. IT WAS DEPRESSING TO COME HOME
AND NOT -- NOTHING >> Reporter: AND THEN? PROSECUTOR BOOTH AND SUDANO'S
TRIAL PREP WAS INTERUPTED. >> WE WERE REALLY CLOSE TO TRIAL.
WE WERE WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS REACHED OUT TO US AND SAID
THAT -- THAT MAYBE IT WAS WORTH TALKING. >> Reporter: FIGUEROA'S
ATTORNEYS WANTED TO MAKE A DEAL. >> WE SAID TO THEM, "YOU KNOW BEFORE WE EVER ENTERTAIN
ANYTHING, HE HAS TO GIVE US RITA BACK." >> Reporter: AND THEY SAID, YES!
WHAT'D YOU THINK WHEN YOU HEARD THAT >> WE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA FALL APART AT EVERY POSSIBLE MOMENT
CHOICE TAKE HIS CHANCES IN A MURDER TRIAL.
OR BARGAIN FOR A DEAL. THE PRICE OF GETTING SUCH A DEAL
TWO THINGS FIGUEROA WOULD HAVE TO TELL THEM WHAT HE DID TO RITA, AND HE'D
HAVE TO REVEAL WHERE HE DUMPED HER BODY WOULD HE DO IT
PROSECUTOR BOOTH DIDN'T KNOW DETECTIVE CODY CLARK DIDN'T KNOW
>> I WANT TO SAY IT WAS, LIKE, A DAY OR TWO OF JUST SITTING ON PINS AND NEEDLES
>> Reporter: AND THEN AN EMAIL ARRIVED. AND HERE IT WAS, SIX WORDS
"I, JUAN FIGUEROA, KILLED RITA GUTTIEREZ." BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE IN
THAT EMAIL, TOO. SOMETHING KIND OF AMAZING. BECAUSE WHO WOULD THINK OF
KEEPING A SPECIFIC BIT OF INFORMATION LIKE THIS? >> IT HAD GPS COORDINATES FOR US
TO LOCATE RITA WE NEVER EXPECTED -- >> Reporter: IT WAS MORE -
>> -- THAT >> Reporter: -- THAN YOU THOUGHT.
>> OH, IT WAS MORE THAN WE THOUGHT. >> Reporter: AS THE SUN ROSE THE
NEXT MORNING, THE COPS WHERE THERE, THE LAWYERS, ALL WERE THERE.
MAYBE HE WAS LYING, SITTING BACK IN HIS CELL ENJOYING THIS. OR MAYBE NOT
BUT THIS WAS IT, THEIR BEST AND MAYBE LAST CHANCE OF FINDING RITA
THEY STARED OUT AT THAT WIDE VISTA, EVEN WITH COORDINATES, THIS WASN'T GOING TO BE EASY
>> I WAS REALLY STARTING TO GET DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE OF THE TERRAIN.
AND WE WERE IN SUPER HIGH CATTAILS AND IT WAS SO THICK.
I REMEMBER I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS GONNA BE LIKE FINDING A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.
>> Reporter: THEY SLOGGED AROUND 10 MINUTES, 20 MINUTES,
40 MINUTES AND THEN SUDDENLY A SHOUT. IT WAS PROSECUTOR
MICHELLE SUDANO. >> AND I SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE A WHITE PIECE OF BONE.
>> Reporter: THERE IT WAS, WHAT WAS LEFT OF A BODY NO DOUBT. HUMAN REMAINS UNDER A THICKET OF
CATTAILS >> WE WERE REALLY LUCKY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE CATTAILS IN THIS
AREA WEREN'T UP TO YOUR CHEST, WHICH THEY WERE EVERYWHERE ELSE. >> Reporter: EVENTUALLY THEY GOT
DNA CONFIRMATION RITA GUTTIEREZ-GARCIA WAS MISSING NO LONGER.
YOU FOUND HER. >> WE FOUND HER. >> Reporter: DETECTIVE CLARK
DREADED TELLING RITA'S FAMILY. >> I KNEW THAT IT WAS GONNA BE ONE OF THE HARDEST CONVERSATIONS
THAT I HAD WITH THEM, BECAUSE IT -- IT WAS THAT FINALITY THAT SHE WASN'T COMING BACK HOME
ALIVE. >> Reporter: HE MET DIANNE AND RITA'S SISTERS AT THE POLICE
STATION. >> EVERYONE WAS THERE. YOU KNOW, RITA'S A-TEAM.
WE ALL STARTED CRYING. WE WERE JUST LIKE, "WHAT?" YOU KNOW, LIKE, "OH, MY GOD.
THEY DID WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO AND -- I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT
THEY GAVE ME MY DAUGHTER BACK. CODY KEPT HIS PROMISE. >> Reporter: BUT REMEMBER, AS
PART OF HIS PLEA DEAL, JUAN AGREED TO TELL INVESTIGATORS AND PROSECUTORS EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED TO RITA >> WHEN WE WENT INTO THAT INTERVIEW, WE HAD NOT TOLD HIS
DEFENSE COUNSEL OR, OBVIOUSLY, THEN NOR DID HE KNOW, THAT WE HAD ACTUALLY RECOVERED RITA AT
THAT POINT SO, SOME OF THE DETAILS HE PROVIDED WE COULD MATCH AND KNOW
WAS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAD LOCATED AT THE CRIME SCENE >> Reporter: FOR NEARLY FOUR
HOURS, JUAN TOLD HIS STORY AS INVESTIGATORS LISTENED INTENTLY TO SEE IF IT RANG TRUE
>> JUAN CLAIMED THAT, AFTER MEETING RITA, HE OFFERRED HER A RIDE HOME.
>> AND SHE SAID, YEAH. SO, WE TURNED AROUND AND WE'RE WALKING BACK TO MY CAR CASUALLY,
YOU KNOW AND WE WALKED ABOUT 10 STEPS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE HAD
STOPPED, LOOKED AT ME, AND SHE'S LIKE, YOU'RE A WEIRDO. AND, YOU KNOW, I -- I MEAN, I --
I SNAPPED. I GOT MAD AND I PUNCHED HER WITH MY RIGHT HAND.
AND SHE -- SHE FELL TO THE GROUND AND SHE HIT HER HEAD REALLY HARD ON THE CONCRETE.
>> Reporter: HE SAID HE PANICKED AFTER PUNCHING HER AND PUT HER IN HIS TRUCK
>> I WAS JUST STILL ANGRY, LIKE, JUST MAD AND I JUST GRAB HER, I JUST
START CHOKING HER. I HELD HER LIKE THAT FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES
I LET GO AND I SAT AT THE TRUCK AND I REALIZED WHAT I JUST DID >> Reporter: HE STARTED DRIVING
AROUND, HE SAID, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT WHEN HE NOTICED RITA'S PHONE.
REMEMBER THAT LAST CALL FROM HER PHONE, TO 911? >> I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO DISABLE THE PHONE AND I ACCIDENTALLY CALLED 911. >> Reporter: IT WAS JUAN WHO
MADE THE CALL, NOT RITA. OF COURSE, INVESTIGATORS HAD TO ASK.
>> DID YOU HAVE SEX WITH HER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT >> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> OKAY. >> Reporter: DID YOU EVER BELIEVE HE WAS TELLING THE WHOLE
TRUTH HERE >> NO, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN SOME SUSPICION THAT MORE
HAPPENED, JUST KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED WITH KAYLENE. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE
COULD PROVE. >> Reporter: THEY COULDN'T PROVE JUAN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED RITA,
BUT DETECTIVE CLARK IS CONVINCED THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE HE STRANGLED HER TO
DEATH. WITH JUAN'S CONFESSION, THERE WOULD BE NO TRIAL.
AND IN JUNE 2022, HE WAS SENTENCED. >> HOW DO YOU PLEAD TO ADDED
COUNT FOUR, MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE >> GUILTY.
>> Reporter: THE JUDGE GAVE HIM 48 YEARS ON TOP OF THE 93 YEARS HE WAS SERVING FOR THE RAPE AND
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF KAYLENE. AFTER THE SENTENCING, RITA'S FAMILY SPOKE TO THE MEDIA.
>> WE HAVE THIS VICTORY AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE RITA THE PEACE AND THE REST HER
BODY NEEDS >> Reporter: AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE MONTHS LATER, RITA'S
FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WERE FINALLY ABLE TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE AND DIANNE INVITED ALL THE
DETECTIVES AND THE PROSECUTORS TOO. SHE CALLED YOU THE A-TEAM,
RIGHT? >> THEY'RE THE A-TEAM. THEY REALLY WERE FABULOUS.
WE WORKED AS A TEAM. TEAM RITA. THEY ASKED DETECTIVE CLARK TO
GIVE THE EULOGY. NOT AN EASY THING TO DO. >> Reporter: HOW DO I WRITE A
EULOGY FOR SOMEBODY THAT I DIDN'T KNOW, THAT I'D NEVER MET? >> AND SO I TRIED TO JUST DO THE
BEST THAT I COULD TO KIND OF MEMORIALIZE WHAT I KNEW ABOUT HER AND HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT
SHE HAD HAD ON ME, EVEN THOUGH I'D NEVER KNOWN HER. >> OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS,
I'VE LEARNED ABOUT RITA FROM DOZENS, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
WHAT I SAW WAS A BRAVE WOMAN, A STRONG MOTHER. HER SONS' LIVES ARE PROOF THAT A
MOTHER'S LOVE IS A POWERFUL FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. >> Reporter: AND RIGHT THERE
LISTENING TO IT ALL WAS KAYLENE, THE YOUNG WOMAN WHO WILL BE FOREVER CONNECTED TO RITA.
>> Reporter: I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY EVER WOULD HAVE SOLVED HER CASE IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR YOU
>> EVERYTHING PLAYED OUT -- IT PLAYED OUT THE WAY IT DID FOR A REASON, YOU KNOW
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS THE REASON >> SO I COULD GET HIM, AND THEY
COULD HOLD HIM, AND, YOU KNOW, THEN THEY COULD FIND HER, AND THEY COULD GET THE TRUTH
>> Reporter: AND DIANNE? SHE LIKES TO VISIT THE PARK WHERE RITA'S TREE STILL STANDS
>> IT JUST BLOOMS SO BEAUTIFULLY. IT'S GREEN AND THE -- IT -- THE
VINES, THEY KINDA, LIKE, TWINE, YOU KNOW AND IT JUST SPIRALS UP
AND -- IT'S JUST GROWN SO MUCH IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL. >> Reporter: YOU LIGHT UP WHEN
YOU TALK ABOUT THE TREE. >> I LOVE THAT TREE BECAUSE IT JUST REMINDS ME OF -- OF RITA.
>> Reporter: AND SHE SITS ON THE BENCH THAT CODY CLARK HELPED RAISE MONEY FOR, IN RITA'S
MEMORY THERE'S A PLAQUE ON IT "FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES, WE
WILL SEARCH FOR MOMENTS FULL OF YOU. >> I DIDN'T GET RITA BACK AS A
PERSON AND AS A BODY BUT I GOT RITA BACK. I WON'T LET NO ONE TAKE THAT
FROM ME. >> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF DATELINE.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SUNDAY AT SEVEN, SIX CENTRAL AND OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH
WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS."